Comments on: Donald Miller pulls me out of the pit: A review of “Blue Like Jazz” and “Searching for God Knows What” http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what ...dispatches from the post-evangelical wilderness Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:26:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jacksonlit http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-6818 jacksonlit Tue, 30 May 2006 20:56:47 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-6818 I've only just found Don Miller's books in the past couple months (in an Easter display at Barnes & Noble) and I feel him speaking right to and from my own heart. I just heard a podcast interview with him and it only re-affirmed my opinion that this is a man who is authentic in his faith—not a leader but a communicator of 21st century Christian reality for many. I study my bible and fellowship with a small group, but the general Christian "mind-think" has kept me away from organized churches for the last several years. Oddly enough, I feel closer to God and His scripture than I ever was when I was a mainstream "churched" Christian. One thing that Miller said really has convicted me though: We need to present the Gospel in LOVE, to whoever God puts in our path, regardless of how we feel about the nature of their apparent sin. We also need to start confronting (with LOVE) the members of the body who are co-opting Jesus Christ for their own political gains and agendas. Ain't that a challenge in this knee-jerk, polarized, and reactionary climate. I’ve only just found Don Miller’s books in the past couple months (in an Easter display at Barnes & Noble) and I feel him speaking right to and from my own heart. I just heard a podcast interview with him and it only re-affirmed my opinion that this is a man who is authentic in his faith—not a leader but a communicator of 21st century Christian reality for many. I study my bible and fellowship with a small group, but the general Christian “mind-think” has kept me away from organized churches for the last several years. Oddly enough, I feel closer to God and His scripture than I ever was when I was a mainstream “churched” Christian. One thing that Miller said really has convicted me though: We need to present the Gospel in LOVE, to whoever God puts in our path, regardless of how we feel about the nature of their apparent sin. We also need to start confronting (with LOVE) the members of the body who are co-opting Jesus Christ for their own political gains and agendas. Ain’t that a challenge in this knee-jerk, polarized, and reactionary climate.

]]> By: Kent Runge http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-567 Kent Runge Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-567 Nice job Michael. Donald Miller's writings have deeply influenced me, he's part of the reason I've got my photography back. Nice job Michael. Donald Miller’s writings have deeply influenced me, he’s part of the reason I’ve got my photography back.

]]> By: Matt http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-568 Matt Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-568 Michael - I've been really meaning to read Miller's work. A friend of mine - a Bush voter - read them and nothing bad to say. But that junk on the website really, really bugs me. Moveon.org is "doing God's work?" Who is this guy kidding? I'm still really excited about getting into the books, but still... Michael –

I’ve been really meaning to read Miller’s work. A friend of mine – a Bush voter – read them and nothing bad to say. But that junk on the website really, really bugs me. Moveon.org is “doing God’s work?” Who is this guy kidding? I’m still really excited about getting into the books, but still…

]]> By: Skeeter http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-569 Skeeter Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-569 I've read both Miller books and I very much like them, despite the fact I'm a philosophy minor, 5-point Calvinist, conservative Christian. I agree with him on most of what he has to say and I think his books are needed, especially when so many books dealing with Christianity are frankly dishonest. Miller is real in these books and that's something I can respect. I’ve read both Miller books and I very much like them, despite the fact I’m a philosophy minor, 5-point Calvinist, conservative Christian. I agree with him on most of what he has to say and I think his books are needed, especially when so many books dealing with Christianity are frankly dishonest. Miller is real in these books and that’s something I can respect.

]]> By: David http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-570 David Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-570 Great reviews-- and right on target! Miller is a fresh, compelling voice who is not afraid to entwine his deep love for Jesus and a curious intellect. He doesn't see those two as antithetical-- and I think that is where the deep sense of "real-ness" comes from. It's just so nice to read an evangelical who refuses to use the accepted ( and oh, so tired-- and tiring)lexicon of faith. Great reviews– and right on target! Miller is a fresh, compelling voice who is not afraid to entwine his deep love for Jesus and a curious intellect. He doesn’t see those two as antithetical– and I think that is where the deep sense of “real-ness” comes from. It’s just so nice to read an evangelical who refuses to use the accepted ( and oh, so tired– and tiring)lexicon of faith.

]]> By: Manders http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-571 Manders Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-571 I've been a fan of Miller's books since his first one, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance (which is now out of print, but he's doing a rewrite of it that'll be out next year). Somehow he manages to put out a book whenever I need his perspective most. :) As a side note, I believe he's also a Calvinist, which is why he's so Christocentric. I’ve been a fan of Miller’s books since his first one, Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance (which is now out of print, but he’s doing a rewrite of it that’ll be out next year). Somehow he manages to put out a book whenever I need his perspective most. :)

As a side note, I believe he’s also a Calvinist, which is why he’s so Christocentric.

]]> By: D. Goodmanson http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-572 D. Goodmanson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-572 I just got my hands on 'Jesus in the Margins : Finding God in the Places We Ignore' by Rick McKinley (You may know him as the pastor of Donald Miller Blue Like Jazz). This is a must read if you like Miller stuff. I just got my hands on ‘Jesus in the Margins : Finding God in the Places We Ignore’ by Rick McKinley (You may know him as the pastor of Donald Miller Blue Like Jazz). This is a must read if you like Miller stuff.

]]> By: Byron http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-573 Byron Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-573 Read "Blue" a few months back, with almost an identical reaction as yours. His politics makes me squeamish, and some of his stuff is edgy for a guy who went to a fundamental Baptist Bible college like I did--but boy, you just get the sense that this guy loves Jesus and acts with an authenticity that Jesus applauds. I mean, Jesus was anything but predictable--but we sure try to tame that Lion of Judah, don't we? I'll need to pick up "Searching"; thanks for a dead-on review! Read “Blue” a few months back, with almost an identical reaction as yours. His politics makes me squeamish, and some of his stuff is edgy for a guy who went to a fundamental Baptist Bible college like I did–but boy, you just get the sense that this guy loves Jesus and acts with an authenticity that Jesus applauds. I mean, Jesus was anything but predictable–but we sure try to tame that Lion of Judah, don’t we? I’ll need to pick up “Searching”; thanks for a dead-on review!

]]> By: J Reppert http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-574 J Reppert Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-574 I appreciated your commentary. Don Miller's book leaves me a little more than "uncomfortable." I would not have even bothered with the book except that I heard Miller give a sermon recently. If you want a vignette of what Don Miller looks like when he preaches check out my blog at <a href="http://www.godsgrrl.net/reppert.html.">http://www.godsgrrl.net/reppert.html.</a> The fruit of this kind of thinking may leave you more uncomfortable than the musing does. JR I appreciated your commentary. Don Miller’s book leaves me a little more than “uncomfortable.” I would not have even bothered with the book except that I heard Miller give a sermon recently. If you want a vignette of what Don Miller looks like when he preaches check out my blog at http://www.godsgrrl.net/reppert.html.
The fruit of this kind of thinking may leave you more uncomfortable than the musing does.
JR

]]> By: Ken Murrel http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/donald-miller-pulls-me-out-of-the-pit-a-review-of-blue-like-jazz-and-searching-for-god-knows-what/comment-page-1#comment-575 Ken Murrel Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.internetmonk.com/im.php/?p=96#comment-575 Michael, Thanks for your review. I was intrigued enough to buy the book and Wow! it is in my opinion a "Mere Christianity" for the Post Modern age. I gave it to my pastor, he loved it, passed it on, and it is next on the list of our Saturday morning men's breakfast/book club. (We are reading Screwtape Letters now}. Keep up the good work. Ken Murrell / Matt. 16:16 Michael, Thanks for your review. I was intrigued enough to buy the book and Wow! it is in my opinion a “Mere Christianity” for the Post Modern age. I gave it to my pastor, he loved it, passed it on, and it is next on the list of our Saturday morning men’s breakfast/book club. (We are reading Screwtape Letters now}. Keep up the good work. Ken Murrell / Matt. 16:16

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